Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

174 reports

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64,253 miles · Mar 15, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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1/26/2016 I GOT MY CAMSHAFT SOLENOID FIXED DUE TO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN IT STARTED TO SHAKE REAL BAD WITH THE DASH LIGHTS STATING THAT MY ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, LOSS OF TRACTION (SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT) I INSTANTLY PUT IT IN THE SHOP. THEN LAST WEEK 3/4/2016 I WAS DRIVING UP TO ERIE, PA FROM OHIO, WHICH IS ABOUT 4.5 HOURS AWAY. I SAY A GOOD 40 MINUTES FROM MY DESTINATION IT HAPPENS AGAIN RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE DASH SAYS THAT MY ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED AND LOSS OF TRACTION (?). THANKFULLY THERE WAS AN EXIT NEAR THAT I COULD GET OFF AT AND AS SOON AS I PUT MY CAR IN PARK IT STARTED TO SHAKE REAL BAD. SO I DID WHAT I DID BEFORE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO LET IT RESET AND THEN STARTED IT BACK UP. IT RAN FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY STAY UNTIL IT CAME TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE TO GO BACK HOME. THIS TIME I ONLY GOT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM ERIE BEFORE IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN, BUT IT KEPT DOING IT. TALK ABOUT BEING FRUSTRATED 4.5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME IN YOUR CAR. ESPECIALLY SINCE I JUST GOT IT FIXED NOT TOO LONG AGO. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON THE RECALL LIST, BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10849853

87,800 miles · Mar 8, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

RECEIVED MESSAGES OF: SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE POWER STEERING, ENG PWR REDUCED, ENGINE DISABLED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, WENT INTO LIMP MODE, HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO TRY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON TO TRY TO RESET. NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT FROM ONCOMING AND TRAILING VEHICLE…

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NHTSA ODI #10840432

113,000 miles · Feb 29, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

CAR INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER. WARNING LIGHT FOR TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON. MUST PULL OVER AND LET CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE BEFORE RESTARTING.

NHTSA ODI #10838967

119,200 miles · Feb 16, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

RECEIVED MESSAGES OF: SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE AIR BAG, ENG PWR REDUCED, ENGINE DISABLED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO TRY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON, UNTIL I RECEIVED THE ENGINE DISABLED MESSAGE AND AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO HAVE TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10836377

119,000 miles · Feb 12, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, ENG PWR REDUCED. THIS MESSAGE HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES LATELY, MOST NOTABLY WHEN TRAVELLING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ENGINE LOSES ALL POWER NO MATER HOW FAR I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10825828

123,000 miles · Feb 11, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10825536

100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR STUMBLES ON DRY ROADS IN SHARP TURNS, LIKE CLOVER LEAF RAMPS GETTING ON AND OFF THE INTERSTATE, WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10825317

101,300 miles · Feb 7, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

GOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE GOING TO MPLS AND CAR FLASHES REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN PULLED OVER A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES TO GET HOME. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF WAIT A LITTLE WHILE START AGAIN AND CONTINUE. CHECK ENGINE STAYED ON. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY SO I AM REPLACING AND HOPEFULLY ABLE TO GET…

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NHTSA ODI #10824688

100,700 miles · Jan 28, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

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CAR LOST POWER AT 65 MPH THAN REDUCED POWER AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TURN CAR OFF AFTER TRYING TO COAST TO TA STOP WITH CARS AND TRUCKS FLYING BY HONKING THERE HORN AND FLICKING ME OFF AND I WAS HELPLESS THE CARS MOTOR WAS SHUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE POWER REDUCE AND ESC THAN THE TRACTION CONTROL CAN ON TOO ALL NEED TO BE SERVICED FINE BUT THAN IT DID IT ALL AGAIN AFTER I GOT EVERYTHING FIXED AND THEN THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO REPLACED AGAIN AND PEDDLE SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR AND STILL DOES IT THE CAR IS TRYING TO KILL ME AND THE NEW MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID HE SEES THIS A LOT AND ITS SOMETIMES HARD TO FIX BECAUSE IT COMES BACK AND THAN I READ ONLINE THE SAME THING I THOUGHT HE WAS TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF ME WHY WONT CHEVROLET HELP GM HELP GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE THESE CAR PLACES FIX THIS STUFF BEFOR A LOT OF PEOPLE GET KILLED

NHTSA ODI #10822859

59,250 miles · Jan 22, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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30 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, IN RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 32 DEGREES, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING GOOD UNTIL I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED (REDUCED ENGINE POWER). I LATER LEFT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I THEN RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE (SERVICE ESC) AND LATER AGAIN RECEIVED THE (REDUCED ENGINE POWER) WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS SNOWING DURING THIS TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO FULLY ACCELERATE BUT IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT RUNNING WELL. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE/ CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO RESOLUTION; EVEN AFTER TAKING TO DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS. GM NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVER A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10821801

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)